Clasp or buckle.



nu. 711,746. Patented out. 2|, |902. 4. L. THomsoN.

cLAsP 0R BucKLE.

(Application led Feb. 18, 1902.)

(No Model.)

the lever a, said plate being .adapted'for enfA 'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JUDSON L. THOMSON, OF CLAYTON, NEW YORK.

CLASP OR BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 711,746, dated October 21, 1902.

Application filed February 18, 1902. Serial'll'o. 94,616. (No model.)

To all whom, it Hetty concer-12,; v

Be it known that I, JUDsoN L. THOMSON, of Clayton, in the county of Jefferson and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clasps or Buckles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to clasps orbuckles, such as are used for fastening arctic overshoes, leather shoes, and for other purposes; and it has for its object to provide an improved clasp or buckle of this character which shall be more efficient, durable, and generally desirable than those now in use.

The invention consists in the improvements which l will now proceed to describe and claim.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure l represents a top plan view of a clasp or buckle embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents an edge view of the same. Fig. 3 represents a section on line 3 3 of Fig. l. Fig.. 4 represents an enlarged plan view of the lever member of the clasp detached from the socket or slot member. Fig. 5 represents an edge view of of the member shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 representsa section on line'6 6 of` Fig. 4. Fig. '7 represents a section on linev 6 6, showing the lever raised to release the other. member of the clasp. Fig. 8 represents a section on line 8 8 of Fig. 4. Fig. 9 represents a view similar to Figs. 6 and 7, showing the lever in an intermediate position. Figs. 10 and 1l represent top plan views-of other forms of clasp embodying my invention.-

The same referenceA characters indicate the same parts in all the figures.

In the drawings, o, represents the lever of a lever clasp or fastener, the same being of the curved form shown in the drawings and having two outwardly-projecting pintles or trunnions ct ct at its inner end portion.

b represents the fulcrum plate or holder for gagement with a strap on an overshoe or other article and having sockets to receive the pintles ct', and a spring b', which controls the le-k ver a in the manner hereinafter described. The sockets for the pintles ct are preferably formed by outwardly-projecting bosses b2, formed on the plate b and the end portions b3 of said plate, said portions being bent under the bosses b2, so that the bosses form the upper sides, andthe end portions b3 the lower sides, of the sockets, as clearly shown in Fig. 8. The lever a is provided at its inner end portion with substantially Iiat seats a3 and a4. Said seats meet at the extreme inner end of the lever and diverge therefrom toward opposite sides of the axial line of the pintles a.

'The relative arrangement of the seats a3 and c4, the pintles, the sockets for the pintles, and the controlling-spring b is such that when the lever is in its holding position (shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 8) the spring b will rest squarely upon the seatotlas shown in Fig. 6, and when the lever isvin its. releasing position (shown in Figf 7) the said spring will bear squarely upon the seat a3. The pintles a' are not elongated in cross-section or in a direction at right angles to their axes, as is usually the case in clasps of this character, the pintles being preferably circular in crosssection, or substantially so, the form of the pintles in cross-section being such that the rotation of the pintles will not have a displacing or cam-like action.

` It will be seenthtat the seats a3 and a4, arranged as described ontheinner end of the lever, enable the force of A'the spring b to be eectively applied in holding the lever in its closed position,las shown in Fig. 6, and in its open position, as shown in Fig. 7, the spring bearing on the'apeX formed by the intersection of the seats a3 and a4 and forcing the lever to its closed position as soon as said apex is at the right of thelaxial line of the pintles and forcing the lever to its open position as soon as the said apexl isvatthe left of the axial line. The buckle is therefore much more effectively controlled by the spring than heretofore, so that it is less liable to be accidentally raised from its closed position by contact with external objects than in any buckle or clasp of thischaracter hitherto made so far as I am aware. The described action of the spring-on the lever will be made clear by reference to Fig. 9, which shows -theflever in' a position intermediate of the ftwo positions shown in Figs. 6 and 7. It will be seen from Fig. 9 that a slight movement of the lever-to the right will cause the spring to act in the direction required to. force the lever to the closed position, (shown inFig. 6,) while a slight movement of the lever to the left will cause roo IOv

the spring to throw the lever to the position shown in Fig. 7'.

c represents the socket or slot member of the clasp, the same being adapted at one end by means of a slot c or any other suitable means for attachment to a strap and provided with a plurality of slots c2, adapted to receive and engage the lever a, as usual. My invention so far as it relates to the member c comprises the following improvements: The rst of said improvements consists in the curved form of the edges c3 of the slots c2. This form enables the lever as to have a continuous bearing on the corresponding edges of the slots c3, Whether the member c and the plate b are in alinement or not. It often happens that the plate b and member c swing` relatively t0 each other, so that they are outl of alinement. When this happens, if the slots c2 have straightsides bearing uponthe lever,only one corner of the lever engages the member c and a diagonal strain results,which causes the cutting or rapid wearing of the straps engaged with the slot c of the member Gand the slot b4of the plate b. Iiind that by curving the edges c3, as shown, this difculty is overcome. I prefer to correspondingly curve the outer edges of the slots c and b4, as I iind that -this curvature contributes to the result last described. The other improvement relating to the member c consists in the formation of longitudinal ribs c4 c", which extend vparallel with the edges of the member c and project outwardly therefrom, the slots c3 being between said ribs. The ribs cL1 are of such with the edges of the leverjaud also by contact with the edges of the plate or member c.

In Fig. 10 I show my invention embodied in a clasp suitable for leather boots and shoes, the parts b and c having orifices o o to receive attaching-rivets. In Fig. ll the invention is shown embodied in a clasp for use ou horse `blankets and other articles made from textile fabric, the lever a being engaged with a plate or member c6, having a single slot. In thisform the lever a is of the same construction as in the other forms shown; but its holder-plate and the member c6 are provided with two holes, 'whereby the-said plate and member a6 may be attached to the fabric by rivets or other suitable means.

I claim- A lever clasp or buckle comprising the slotted member which is curved longitudinally and is substantially lat in cross-section, and has transverse slots with curved lever-supporting edges, said curvedl edges being substantially parallel with each other, and the leverholding plate or member having a hinged lever formed to enter either of said slots and bear against the curved edge thereof, the said lever being curved in cross-section at the point where it bears on said curved edge, the curved edges of the slots and the transversely-curved portion of the lever keeping the parts of the clasp in alinelnent when under strain, and preventing a cutting action on the straps which connect the said parts to an overshoe.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JUDSON L. THOMSON.

Witnesses:

C. F. BROWN, A. D. HARRISON. 

